Death of Burnley policeman (55): tributes

A HIGHLY respected Burnley police officer who served his town with honour and distinction has died.

Former PC Brian Whitham, who lived in Lindsay Park, died in Royal Blackburn Hospital aged 55.

A familiar face in the area, he spent more than 30 years helping police the streets and was a prominent figure in the police organisation of football matches during the later years of his career.

Burnley born and bred, he attended St John the Baptist RC Primary School and St Theodore’s RC High School before working in a number of mills.

After taking the decision to join the police in the early 1970s he underwent his training in Preston before starting his career in Burnley.

It was through work he met his wife-to-be Kay who was stationed on the same patrol as him – the couple met in 1976 and married four years later. Mrs Whitham remembered her husband as someone who loved his job but who always loved spending time with his family.

“When his grandchildren were born in 2006 and 2008 they became his life,” she said. “He absolutely loved spending time with them and they couldn’t wait to see him.

“He really did love his job. He retired in 2005 but actually went back a year in a civilian capacity helping with duties and resources as well as football planning.

“We’ve been inundated with cards and flowers from friends and colleagues, which has been really nice.”

Mr Whitham also leaves his children Jonathan and Natalie and grandsons Noah and Luca.